Spring Bear Viewing

In late May and June we offer spring bear viewing holidays in and around our remote valley.

We typically see multiple black bears and we usually see grizzly bears.

Spring is vibrant and the long days allow us to roam far and wide. We head into hidden valleys, sometimes along trails that we have fashioned ourselves, or walk into the sub-alpine just as the snow is melting.

These higher-elevation forays often allow us to spot black bears and sometimes grizzlies feeding on fresh grasses at snow line.

On some of the evenings you are with us we will head out again after dinner. The warm spring evenings can be a great time to see bears that only emerge as the sun begins to set.

Apart from bears we see many other wild animals around us. Those we see fairly regularly include coyotes, elk, porcupine, moose and beavers.

Among our rarer sightings are wolves, lynx, bobcats and cougars as well as members of the weasel family ranging from the least weasel to the wolverine, our rarest animal.

The spring is not only a great time for bear viewing, it is also the best time to see our rich bird life.

You will see many of the songbirds that gather in our garden and you may also see bald eagles, various woodpeckers, jays, and different types of hawks. In the alpine we often see Clark’s Nutcrackers and Grey Jays.

You will almost certainly see dozens of hummingbirds who return after wintering in central America, before heading further north.

A typical day will see you waking up in your own log cabin by the river. We serve breakfast in the main house.

After breakfast we head out. We may take you spotting for bears that have recently emerged from denning. Or walk into a remote wilderness valley to view bears feeding on grasses and flowers.

We are located in the inland temperate rainforest, the only of its kind in the world.

We walk among trees that are up to a thousand years old and take in the beauty of the virgin land, much of it unchanged since modernity arrived.

We serve dinner – freshly-cooked from local ingredients – early evening in the lodge. On one night of your holiday, we may light the campfire and barbecue by the river.

Safety is at the core of what we do. As well as being trained naturalists and certified bear guides, we are also trained in off-road driving, swift-water rescue (rafting guides only) and wilderness first aid.

Julius, your lead guide, has nearly two decade’s experience walking around wild bears and is one of the few guides in BC certified to train new guides.

Wild Bear Lodge is a member of the British Columbia Commercial Bear Viewing Association, an organisation which is responsible for promoting safe viewing and bear conservation.

Our holidays are not especially physically demanding. But you should be able to walk comfortably for a couple of hours at a time over uneven terrain.

Our age recommendation for the autumn is 14-75.

We are also heavily engaged in lobbying and conservation work, aimed at ensuring that bears have a place on the landscape for centuries to come.